There was some rude woman who kept trying to peek at my status without permission, so I intimidated her as I turned around.
If it had only happened once, it could have been accidental.
But it happened a second time, so she was definitely doing it on purpose.
I do look at people with [Divine Eye] myself, but I only do that toward people who are hostile toward me.
There's no reason for her to be peeking at me freely.
It seemed like she was trying to recruit me, so maybe she wanted to see what kind of abilities I had first?
But even then, it would have been proper etiquette to say something first.
Honestly, people in this other world...
I'm using [Divine Eye] to disguise my skills anyway, so even if she saw them, there's nothing particularly impressive—but it's still an unpleasant feeling to be looked down on like that.
Since [Divine Eye] lets you appraise someone without the other person even noticing, that woman's [Appraisal] must be pretty low-level.
◇◇◇
I returned to the guild with Enrique, and right there on the spot I was given a special promotion straight to Gold Rank.
As for the Ruby Dragon I used as proof, I decided to have Enrique put it up for auction as my agent.
That way, there shouldn't be any trouble this time.
I learned my lesson from the White King Tiger Wolf incident.
Since Enrique is bound by Subordination Magic, he can't act dishonestly toward me.
Now I can finally enter the Capital City Martial God Festival.
◇◇◇
"The winner is Alisa!"
I breezed through the preliminary rounds of the Capital City Martial God Festival with ease.
After all, all I had to do was use my skill-enhanced physical abilities to circle behind my opponent and gently tap them on the back of the neck.
But of course, this whole thing is a trap set by the nobles.
You see, the common-born contestants who valiantly claw their way up are mercilessly crushed by mercenaries hired by the nobles during the main tournament.
Before that happens, they make a grand announcement calling each one a "championship contender," and when the unsuspecting commoners bet their meager savings on that person, the nobles strip them dry—that's the scenario.
In short, it's an entertainment show by the nobles, for the nobles.
But I fully intend to blow it all apart.
◇◇◇
Now then, my first opponent in the main tournament is Ash, known as—
"Crimson Flame"—
Ash.
He wields a one-handed sword
and wears heavy armor—
his gear, in short.
The armor is one of those flame-forged types blessed by fire spirits—it reduces incoming fire damage while boosting the fire-aspect damage he dishes out.
There's no way this guy can beat me.
It's not about raw strength or elemental compatibility—having the star commoner lose in the very first round would kill the whole show.
They'll let the commoner advance to around the semifinals to build up the crowd's hopes, and then have him fall in a hard-fought battle.
Watching the commoners whisper "It was so close" and sneering at them from the shadows—
...a sinister little scheme.
That's just the sort of hobby nobles enjoy, after all.
Ash, perhaps putting on a show of enthusiasm if nothing else, channeled magic power into the Crimson Flame Sword Franvelge held in his hand, and undulating flames engulfed the blade.
"Well then—don't go dying on me too easily, little lady."
With a single swing of the Crimson Flame Sword on the spot, Ash sent a blazing arc of flame hurtling forward.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Gentleman Thief] [Dark Magic] [Rock-Iron Magic] [Holy Magic] [Space-Time Magic] [Scorching Magic] [Freezing Ice Magic] [Magic Hand] [Temptation] [Pain Dampening] [Complete Status Ailment Resistance]
Rank: Silver (Alisa: Gold)
Thank you always for reading😊